Swimwear Fashion Week events you can attend

Salon Allure Group Show W South Beach Hotel

Salon Allure Group Show W South Beach Hotel

Rod HagwoodSun Sentinel

The runways aren’t for everyone.

The marathon of fashion shows centered on swimsuits rolls into Miami Beach again July 18-23 with thousands of swimwear manufacturers, buyers, designers, stylists, models and reporters. All of them are in town for a series of events under the umbrella of what is loosely called Miami Swim Week.

The fashion week is really three different events. There’s the business-oriented SwimShow trade show at the Miami Beach Convention Center; the luxe-boutique market Salon Allure at the W South Beach hotel and the designer runway extravaganzas of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim at The Raleigh Hotel.

And unofficially there are satellite events sprinkled throughout South Beach nightclubs, restaurants and hotels, much of it generally “industry-only” runway shows, product launches and after parties.

No personal invite = no getting pass the velvet ropes.

But fret not, there are a few things that the public can attend:

July 18 – “Splashion 2012″ will return this year at LIV Nightclub with free cocktails; beauty treatments; pop band Kulture Shock and a fashion show of summer trends with local and national swimwear brands. Hosted by Miami Magazine, the event is from 8 to 11 p.m. at LIV Fontainebleau Miami Beach at 4441 Collins Avenue (must be 21 or over). RSVP ModernLuxury.com/splashion.

July 18 - “Ready, Set, Swim…Presented by Miinto.com” – an evening of swimwear, shopping and spa services – will take place in Miami’s Design District at Emena Spa from 7 to 10 p.m. The event is hosted by website divas Kelly Saks of Kelly’s Kloset and Lori Riviere of Shortcuts To Fabulous with summer cocktails; pop-up shop with swimwear and accessories; mini-spa treatments and a fashion show by Miinto.com. Emena Spa is in the Buena Vista Building at 180 N.E. 39th Street, Suite 223 in downtown Miami. RSVP to rsvp@itmarketingconcepts.com.

July 20 - “Out of the Blue” swimwear fashion show with fashion stylist Chanell Fair and Stilo at Chalk Lounge, 1234 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach. Doors open at 8 p.m. (open bar before 9 p.m.). RSVP to http://outoftheblueswimshow-miamiswimweek.eventbrite.com/.

July 20 – Lila Nikole Rivera will debut her spring/summer 2013 Lila Nikole Collection at the newly-opened Bamboo Miami from 8 to 11 p.m. (the runway show starts at 9:30 p.m.). The evening will include performances from Red Bull Stage artists Bonnie Beats and DJ Rob Dinero. It’s a perfect fit since Rivera’s line was inspired by the Ultra Music Festival. Bamboo Miami is at 550 Washington Avenue. RSVP to LilaNikole@taraink.com.

July 21-22 – “The Salon Allure Designer Sample Sale” offers locals first-dibs on luxury-label swimwear at discounts up to 50% off both days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. All of the net profits will benefit the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation, which is why the event is chaired by Miami heavy-hitters such as big-baller philanthropist Tracy Wilson Mourning, accessories designer Lisa Pliner and style blogger Ginger Harris. The sale takes place in the South Ballroom in the Perry South Beach, 2337 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.

July 22 – “Summer Sample Sale Miami Beach’s” annual pop-up shopping lounge will feature more than 20 contemporary designers of resortwear, swimwear, lingerie and accessories from noon to 8 p.m. The space will include live music, a Real Sorbet truck, a braid bar by BLO Midtowna nd sponsored booths giving out free samples. Also straight off the runway and sold at discounted prices, the Red Dress Collection by designers Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, Nicole Miller, Gustavo Cadile, Angel Sanchez, Silvia Tcherassi, Diego Binetti, Victoria Lopez Castro, Fisico by Cristina Ferrari, Ever After, Koam Designs, Sarahi House of Fashion, Custo Barcelona, LAVUK and Carlo Carrizosa. The Red Dress Collection organizers will be donating all of the proceeds to benefit American Heart Association. Be sure to check out the free yoga class Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon courtesy of Green Monkey. The lounge will be in Collins Park, 21st and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.